Sandtoft has announced the launch of what it calls the ‘ground-breaking’ Rivius roof tile, a product that the company says boasts all the aesthetic beauty of slate, combined with all of the benefits of a clay roof tile.
The Wienerberger roof brand calls the Rivius tile an authentic alternative to slate, which it says is time consuming, complex and costly to lay. Rivius is an interlocking clay tile with no need for double lapping, meaning if offers faster installation times and therefore reduced labour costs. The tile’s large format also makes it cheaper to use, while the use of clay as a more cost effective material to traditional slate offers savings on material costs.
Rivius is manufactured using bespoke moulds that have been crafted from the imprints of Welsh and Cumbrian slate to ensure the intricate texture and defined detail of natural slate is reflected in the final clay product. Sandtoft says this creates previously impossible opportunities for self-build projects, which would benefit from the look of slate but are looking for a cost effective product.
Richard Bishop, category marketing manager for roof at Wienerberger, said: “Until now, slate’s only tangible advantage over clay has been its texture and appearance. By developing the new Rivius tile we have been able to extract that superior, unique finish and combine it with the range of benefits of using clay.
“Rivius is pressed from natural alluvial Humber clay and is available in an Antique Slate finish, which will last the entire life span of the product. Furthermore, it boasts a high performance weatherproof design developed through intensive wind tunnel testing and is manufactured to Environment Management Standard ISO 14001.
“We can see Rivius being a very popular product in 2015 and beyond, and it’s fantastic to be launching it to the market.”
The new Rivius joins the New Generation portfolio, a range that Sandtoft claims is renowned for its interlocking format and easy to lay open gauge. It is also around 50% more cost effective than natural slate, whilst being a true authentic slate in appearance.
